Grants

The Seattle Office of Arts & Culture's investments in the arts make our community more vibrant and spur economic growth. In alignment with the City's Race and Social Justice Initiative, we work to eliminate institutional racism in our programs, grants, policies and practices. These grants make meaningful impacts in our communities by expanding access to arts and culture for residents and visitors throughout our city. Our grant programs include Arts Mean Business, Art in Parks, Civic Partners, CityArtist Projects, Cultural Facilities, Neighborhood & Community Arts, smART ventures, and Youth Arts.

The Seattle Office of Arts & Culture is hosting informal open chat sessions designed to bring people in the arts and cultural community together around common questions related to funding and racial equity. They’re a great way to meet with a small group of people, explore questions, discover possible answers, and build connections.

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Encouraging innovation and widening cultural participation, particularly by individuals, organizations and communities that may not qualify for other grant programs. Accepting applications year-round, smART ventures is flexible, inclusive and simple.

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Aims to create community impact by broadening arts and culture participation at Langston Hughes Performing Arts Institute, an historic landmark cultural facility in the heart of the Central Area neighborhood of Seattle.

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Awarding two-year grants to Seattle arts and cultural organizations and investing in the broad cultural community, helping organizations make a rich variety of arts, heritage and culture opportunities accessible to Seattle residents and visitors.

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This grant in collaboration with the Seattle Youth Violence Prevention Initiative (SYVPI), funded arts, cultural and community organizations providing programming that linked arts learning and work experiences for Seattle youth ages 12 to 18 years old. This program will not have an open application cycle in 2017.

This pilot program created greater equity and inclusiveness in Seattle by funding pivotal arts jobs for arts, cultural and heritage organizations that serve under-represented communities. This program will not have an open application cycle in 2016.

What am I eligible for?

Calls for Artists

The Office of Arts & Culture (ARTS) is expanding the Ethnic Artist Roster, a pre-qualified list of artists. The Ethnic Artist Roster supports the City of Seattle’s Race and Social Justice Initiative (RSJI) by fostering dialogue about race, culture, gender and equity through diverse exhibitions by regional artists. Artists selected for the roster will also be featured in an online database of Northwest artists of color.10/17/2017

The Office of Arts & Culture and Seattle Parks and Recreation are seeking artists to create temporary art installations or social practice activities for selected Seattle parks to activate and engage their surrounding communities. 10/24/2017

The Seattle Office of Arts & Culture (ARTS), in partnership with Seattle Department of Transportation (SDOT), seeks an artist or artist team to develop site-specific, permanent artworks for four (4) streetcar platform stations for the future Center City Connector Streetcar. The successful artwork will celebrate a sense of place, promote wayfinding, and create a visual identity for the Center City Connector. The selected artist(s) will work with SDOT and SDOT consultants from design through construction of the new streetcar line. 2/21/2017

The Office of Arts & Culture, in partnership with Seattle Public Utilities (SPU), seeks to commission an artist or artist team to create a site integrated or site specific artwork that is reflective of Coast Salish historic and cultural connections to the Salmon Bay and Shilshole areas for SPU’s Ship Canal Water Quality Project (SCWQP) Pump Station.2/9/2017

Grants/Funding

Aims to create community impact by broadening arts and culture participation at Langston Hughes Performing Arts Institute, an historic landmark cultural facility in the heart of the Central Area neighborhood of Seattle.

Encouraging innovation and widening cultural participation, particularly by individuals, organizations and communities that may not qualify for other grant programs. Accepting applications year-round, smART ventures is flexible, inclusive and simple.

Professional Development

The Seattle Arts Leadership Team (SALT) is a flexible and creative professional development program for artists and arts administrators. SALT combines the need for on-going professional development with the creativity of the sector by bringing interesting, challenging and thought provoking workshops, networking and training to the Seattle’s arts ecology.

Artist Rosters

The roster is a vetted list of teaching artists and community arts and culture organizations that have been approved to work in Seattle Public Schools through the Creative Advantage. The roster is a community resource, available to schools, and community agencies who seek partners to lead creative learning experiences within their programs.

The Office of Arts & Culture maintains an Arts Partner Roster of teaching artists and community arts and culture organizations for The Creative Advantage. The roster is a resource for schools seeking partners to meet their education and community goals. The application to the 2017 community arts partner roster is now open. Deadline: April 18, 20174/18/2017

Professional Development

The Seattle Arts Leadership Team (SALT) is a flexible and creative professional development program for artists and arts administrators. SALT combines the need for on-going professional development with the creativity of the sector by bringing interesting, challenging and thought provoking workshops, networking and training to the Seattle’s arts ecology.

Awarding two-year grants to Seattle arts and cultural organizations and investing in the broad cultural community, helping organizations make a rich variety of arts, heritage and culture opportunities accessible to Seattle residents and visitors.1/1/2016

Aims to create community impact by broadening arts and culture participation at Langston Hughes Performing Arts Institute, an historic landmark cultural facility in the heart of the Central Area neighborhood of Seattle.

Encouraging innovation and widening cultural participation, particularly by individuals, organizations and communities that may not qualify for other grant programs. Accepting applications year-round, smART ventures is flexible, inclusive and simple.

This grant in collaboration with the Seattle Youth Violence Prevention Initiative (SYVPI), funded arts, cultural and community organizations providing programming that linked arts learning and work experiences for Seattle youth ages 12 to 18 years old. This program will not have an open application cycle in 2017.

Professional Development

In conjunction with the Office for Civil Rights we are offering arts and cultural organizations the tools they need to turn their commitments to building racial equity – both within their organizations and through their work in and with community – into actions for tangible change.

Aims to create community impact by broadening arts and culture participation at Langston Hughes Performing Arts Institute, an historic landmark cultural facility in the heart of the Central Area neighborhood of Seattle.

This grant in collaboration with the Seattle Youth Violence Prevention Initiative (SYVPI), funded arts, cultural and community organizations providing programming that linked arts learning and work experiences for Seattle youth ages 12 to 18 years old. This program will not have an open application cycle in 2017.

Other Opportunities

Hi-lifeThe Hi-Life in Ballard is looking for new pieces to hang for our upcoming Fall menu. We'd like art that represents the autumn season in all of its splendor. You think you have what we are looking for? If so please read on for the specifications.9/5/2017

Jack Straw Cultural CenterTwelve writers, selected by an invited curator, create new work during the residency to be presented through live readings, recorded interviews, a published anthology, and as podcasts on our web site.11/1/2017

Jack Straw Cultural CenterThe Jack Straw New Media Gallery is a unique venue in Seattle where artists from various disciplines can present works in which sound is an integral or exclusive element11/1/2017

ColturaThe Georgetown No-Gas Mural will invite viewers to think about the use of gasoline personally, as a family, at work , the effect on community and in society and inspire that thought to transform to action in reducing or eliminating gasoline use. Coltura has chosen the Georgetown neighborhood of Seattle for a no-gas themed mural because Georgetown already has a vibrant art community with murals throughout the neighborhood. Georgetown is also a community heavily impacted by poor air quality due to gasoline use by trucks at the nearby Port. 9/10/2017

ShunpikeShunpike introduces a new Artist-in-Residence program in Seattle, WA. Artists selected for this exciting opportunity will work in a Seattle-area corporate campus in an on-site art studio.9/24/2017

Shoreline-Lake Forest Park Arts Council6X6NW is an exciting art exhibition and fundraising event for the Shoreline-Lake Forest Park Arts Council. The show will featuring over 600 works of art, all sized 6 x 6 inches.9/29/2017

Clatsop Community College Royal Nebeker Art GalleryAu Naturel: The Nude in the 21st Century is an international juried competition hosted annually by the Clatsop Community College Royal Nebeker Art Gallery in Astoria, Oregon, with a focus on the time-honored tradition of the nude human figure, an art form that continues to inspire and challenge many artists today as one of the most potentially rewarding subjects to explore. 11/7/2017

Antioch University MFA ProgramAt Lunch Ticket, we publish excellent work from new, emerging, and established writers and artists, in balance with conversations about social justice and community activism. We seek to give a platform to underrepresented voices that reflect diverse experiences. We are currently accepting submissions for our Winter/Spring 2018 issue, and are currently open in Creative Nonfiction, Fiction, Poetry, Young Adult (13+), Flash Prose, Translation, and in August for Visual Art. Additionally, during the month of August we are accepting submissions for two literary awards: the Diana Woods Memorial Award in Creative Nonfiction and the Gabo Prize for Literature in Translation and Multilingual Texts. The winner of each of these awards will receive a cash prize and publication in the Winter/Spring 2018 issue alongside the finalists. The general submissions in Creative Nonfiction and Literary Translation will be open September 1st through October 31st.10/31/2017

The National YoungArts FoundationThe National YoungArts Foundation identifies and nurtures the most accomplished young artists in the visual, literary, design and performing arts and assists them at critical junctures in their educational and professional development. YoungArts aspires to create a community of alumni that provides a lifetime of encouragement, opportunity and support.10/13/2017

Cornish College of the ArtsThe Cornish Playhouse Arts Incubator residency is designed to encourage artistic risk-taking by supporting artists in the creation of work that is outside the boundaries of their usual genre, discipline or comfort zone. 8/21/2017

Contemporary CraftLEAP recognizes exceptional emerging talent in the contemporary craft field and provides opportunities for early career artists to bring their artwork to the consumer market. 9/30/2017

The Office of Arts & Culture maintains an Arts Partner Roster of teaching artists and community arts and culture organizations for The Creative Advantage. The roster is a resource for schools seeking partners to meet their education and community goals. The application to the 2017 community arts partner roster is now open. Deadline: April 18, 20174/18/2017

“Your Body of Water” Poetry on Buses 2016-2017, has expanded to offer community sourced poetry in nine languages on a broad range of bus, rail and station venues. Residents in King County, Washington is eligible to submit one poem up to 50 words in length on the theme of water online starting May 15 through September 30.9/30/2016

Resources

Grants are cash support given for arts projects, programs and organizations by government agencies, foundations, corporations, individuals and private arts organizations. You most often need to fill out an application and submit it to the grant-making organization for consideration. If you are looking for funding for a particular art project or organization, here are a few tips and resources to help guide you.

Basic tips:

Think about your project or organization in the future. Start with the end in mind. Look at your project or organization's big picture. Who are you? What are your strengths and priorities?

Create a plan, not just a proposal.

Do your homework. Research prospective funders. Search locally first. Target funding sources that have an interest in your organization, program or project.

Make sure the priorities of the foundation, corporation or government agency you're applying to are the best match for your work or organization. Go to their website. See who they've funded in the past. Review their eligibility requirements. Make sure you or your organization fits who they fund.

Quality writing counts. A clear, concise, well-written proposal makes a difference. If you don't have much experience writing grants, or don't feel confident in your writing skills, find someone who does to review your grant before you submit it. Always proof your application.

Get help if you need it. Take a grant-writing workshop.

Get face-to-face time. Meet with the program officer for the grant you are applying to. Many funders have staff available to help answer questions or review draft proposals. Making a personal connection with funders before submitting an application can be invaluable in putting together the strongest application possible.

Tips for Individual Artists

Have a well-written artist statement (half-page version, one-page version and a two-page version). Do not overuse "art speak" terms/language. Write for an audience who has never interacted with/seen your work. Keep it simple, clear and straight-forward. The committee reviewing your proposal needs to understand the proposal the first time they read it.

Have good documentation/support materials of your work. Photographs and video documentation need to be done well. Save articles and reviews of your work. Project your images to make sure they project well. Check the viewing order of the visual support materials you are submitting carefully. Make sure the order makes visual sense to viewers. For example, if you are submitting a diptych, submit an image of the entire diptych first, followed by the details of the piece.

Have two copies of the grant guidelines/form on hand (or make copies). Use one of the forms as your working document. Follow the directions/guidelines closely.

Start the grant well ahead of the deadline and have someone proofread your proposal.

Do not send extra materials that aren't asked for.

Do not make lots of calls to the organization about the grant. Be organized with all your questions. They should be asked in one or two phone calls.

For the budget, factor in your labor time as well as the cost of your materials. Make a list of things you'll need and their price. When you look for in-kind donations you will have a better idea of what you need.

Organize a group of artists to research grant opportunities. It will take you much less time to research grants with more people looking and you can proofread each other's grant proposals.

Want to get the word out about your arts or cultural event or exhibit? Here are some tips on sending out information to the public and local media.

Step 1. Gather all the details: who, what, where, when and why.

Step 2. Gather graphics for publicity. Gather photos, create a logo if necessary, work with a designer on the look and any printed materials.

Step 3. Write a press release and/or prepare a press kit and send to the media.

The Press Release

Press releases inform the media about your event and can inspire the media to publish a calendar listing or even cover the event. Click here for a description and example of the anatomy of a press release.

Try to let the media know what makes your event unique or relevant.

Be genuine. Exaggeration or inaccuracy will only hurt your chances of being a reliable media source. The more a press release reads like an actual news article, the better. Many smaller publications love releases they can print verbatim.

Press releases should look professional and be easy to read. Type double-spaced.

Make sure the organization's name, address, website and contact information is visible.

Include the media contact's name, direct phone line and e-mail address near the top of the first page.

Include a "pull date" (the last date of the event) near the top of the first page.

Include a headline that summarizes the event and invites people to read the details.

All the most pertinent information should be included in the first paragraph - the five W's. Who is presenting what, where and when? Why should people attend? Include information on how people can attend or buy tickets, locations of ticket venues or website, e-mail and/or box office phone-line information.

Additional paragraphs can provide more descriptive information about the event, artists involved and quotes.

Use your mission statement or general description of the organization at the end of the press release.

If the press release is longer than one page, write "-More-" at the bottom of each page. At the end of the last page, include "# # #" to indicate the end of the release.

The Press Kit

Press kits provide useful background information for members of the press writing previews or reviews of your arts or cultural event. A press kit should be organized in a folder and generally includes:

1) Organization Information (front to back on the left side of the folder)

Mission statement

Brief organizational history

Organizational brochure

Feature articles on the organization or lead staff

Board list

Business card for media contact

2) Specific Event Information (front to back on the right side of the folder)

Press release for the event

Photos or artwork related to the event

Event postcard or flyer

Event program

Artists' bios, if not in the program

Preview articles about the event

Note: Do not include reviews of the event or previous events in the press packet. Most reviewers do not want to be influenced by the opinions of others.

Online calendars

There are numerous websites with online events calendars to use to publicize your event. Here are few:

4Culture 4Culture works to enhance the quality of life in King County by providing residents and visitors with a broad range of programs and services in the arts, heritage, historic preservation and public art. Find current funding opportunities for artists and organizations.

National Endowment for the Humanities (NEH) NEH is an independent grant-making agency of the United States government dedicated to supporting research, education, preservation, and public programs in the humanities. NEH grants typically go to cultural institutions, such as museums, archives, libraries, colleges, universities, public television, and radio stations, and to individual scholars.

National Endowment for the Arts (NEA) The NEA offers grants to individuals and non-profit organizations to advance artistic excellence, creativity and innovation for the benefit of individuals and communities. The NEA funds the visual arts, performing arts, literary arts, folk and traditional arts, museums, arts education and arts agencies.